Most C&B managers earn a reputation for being the bearers of bad news. Monarch? He earned respect — and even affection.
My ex-colleague and dear friend Monarch was one of the most brilliant Compensation & Benefits managers I’ve ever known — process-driven, deeply logical, yet a natural leader with a warm heart.
Anyone who’s worked in C&B knows: employees rarely feel fondly toward those who decide their salaries. But with Monarch, it was different. People left his office satisfied, even when they didn’t get exactly what they wanted. He knew exactly what to say and how to say it — a rare blend of precision and empathy.
I often thought of him as a classic INTJ, like Krishna or Chanakya — always five steps ahead in thought and action (want to know more about INTJ? Ask AI about MBTI and its 16 personality types defined by a mother daughter researcher duo)
His love for learning seemed limitless. Beyond Excel sheets and salary bands, he explored disciplines that, at first glance, had little to do with HR — coaching, hypnotherapy, psychology. And then came Indian Vedic astrology. I suspect it was his logical mind, hungry for patterns and systems, that drew him in — even though he knew it wasn’t academically “proven.”
Soon, he was Head of HR for a large organisation. And I can’t help but imagine him blending his HR expertise with the human insights he’s drawn from astrology — recognising patterns, understanding motivations, and navigating complex dynamics in ways few could.
🪐 Question for HR Leaders:
Are you encouraging your people to bring their diverse passions — even unconventional ones — into the workplace? Could those interests spark new ways to connect, understand, and lead?
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